There are many events that have helped shape the landscape of school finance in Texas. I have picked three events that have really stood out in my mind. First, Mirabeau B. Lamar, "the Father of Texas Education," persuading the legislature to establish three leagues of land in each county to support education and 50 leagues of land for two universities. This attempt to fund public education guaranteed the land needed for public schools throughout the state as well as the land that led to higher education and establishment of the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. Even though the funding was not adequate, it was still a major step for public education in Texas. Second, the new state constitution in 1969 called for mandatory school attendance for children between the ages of 8-14. This new law helped establish an emphasis on students receiving some form of education even if the age requirement was only for 7 years. The third event was the new Texas Constitution adopted in 1876 that established the Permanent and Available School Funds. The constitution also included a statement - "A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and made suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free education." This statement has been the foundation for school lawsuits in Texas for many years dealing with adequacy, equity, and efficiency.
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